Do you watch TLC’s Extreme Couponing show? It is the one show on television that makes me feel a little bit like Mrs. Kravitz from Bewitched (I know that dates me!). I feel like I want to see exactly what they have stockpiled, what’s in their shopping carts and how many coupon inserts they have. Here are just a few thoughts on the show.

Junk Food/Soda

In general, it seems that much of what’s thrown into all the shopping carts of extreme couponers is cookies, cereal, candy and soda or some other sugary drink. Seeing that comforts me in a strange way. I still aim for as close to free as possible when I shop but not at the expense of eating as fresh and as organic as is financially feasible.

Fresh Food

I think I’ve seen fresh, non packaged food twice on the Extreme Couponing show. I know that show and the shopping trips are set up to be the most dramatic savings. However, we buy much more fresh food than packaged food on any given week.

Game

Some of the couponers have great stories, as they help support their families or support multiple families. Others seem to just enjoy the game. One woman bragged about clearing the shelves. She was happy to call herself a shelf-cleaner. I think that’s what separates the hoarders from the rest of us.

Takeaways

What makes me jealous and inspires me at the same time is seeing things our family would use: toilet paper, shampoo, laundry detergent, all kinds of soap, razors and DIAPERS! As I grow in my couponing and stockpiling, I aspire to have a nice stockpile of these items so that we can channel the money we spend on that elsewhere. We have two small children who will need to go to college and pay for weddings one day. Since that’s not free, I’m inspired to aim for free for other things.

What do you think of the Extreme Couponing show? Does it help you? Inspire you? Or, make you sick?